Taupo Region

At the
heart of the North Island lies the Great Lake Taupo region, undoubtedly one of
the world’s most unique and picturesque areas.This popular tourist
destination boasts a lake the size of Singapore and its mountains are famous
internationally for being featured as the ominous Mt Doom in the Lord of The
Rings trilogy.

Being
host to the largest freshwater lake in Australasia, it is no wonder that the
Great Lake Taupo region is world-famous for trout fishing. Turangi Tongariro, situated
at the southern end of the lake, is known as the ‘Trout Fishing Capital of New
Zealand’, a perfect place to base yourself if fly-fishing is your thing. You
need a license to fish which can be purchased at the i-SITES or local fishing
shops.

You won’t
find trout on the menu but most restaurants will be more than happy to prepare
and cook them for you. Just ring beforehand to let them know you’ll be bringing
in your catch.

The Great
Lake Taupo region is proud to produce Taupo Beef, the first locally produced beef that has been given
the environmental ‘tick’ from Waikato Regional Council. The endorsement
recognises that the beef was produced in a manner that protects the excellent
water quality of Lake Taupo. This grass fed, free-range beef is aged for a
minimum of four weeks before it is sold at selected restaurants.

Several local
restaurants such as the Bantry and Plateau Restaurant have won the "Beef and
Lamb Cuisine Award” with many serving wild food dishes on their menus.

The region is a great place for hunting with sika and red deer, wild
pigs and goats aplenty in popular hunting areas such as the Kaimanawa Forest
Park, Rangataua Forest, Tongariro Forest, Tongariro National Park, Erua Forest,
Rangitaiki Conservation Area and Lake Taupo Lakeshore Reserves.Guided
hunting tours are great for helping you find that trophy prize.

If you like your coffee, you can be assured that you will get only the
best cuppas in the Great Lake Taupo region. Many cafes have won prestigious
coffee awards over the recent years including the New Zealand Coffee, Top
Barista, Café Magazine Best Café and NZ Coffee Festival & Awards.

For wines, head on down to Taupo’s first boutique premium
wine establishment Scenic Cellars, which stocks over 3,000 different wine labels
and over 100,000 bottles of rare and fine wines from all over the world. The
store was also the second retail premises in the southern hemisphere to install
an Enomatic Tasting Machine in a retail store, allowing customers to self-taste
domestic and international wines.

Last but not least, the Great Lake Taupo region is home to
New Zealand’s largest and only Prawn Farm, Huka Prawn Park,
which offers prawn fishing activities for the whole family. Dine alfresco on
the banks of the Waikato River at their restaurant and treat yourself to a
mouth-watering selection of fresh farmed prawn dishes.